Aerosol operated horn

ABSTRACT

A small air horn adapted to be secured to a standard valve of a standard aerosol cartridge. A push rod extending through the horn to the valve, with a push button at an outer end of the rod. When the push button is pressed inwards, the push rod moves inwards so opening the valve. Gas under pressure passes to the horn causing it to sound. This is a small device - well adapted for use as a personal warning and signalling device.

United States Patent Swanson 1 3,670,690 [451 June 20, 1972 [54] AEROSOL OPERATED HORN [72] Inventor: Robert E. Swanson, 5212 Granville St.,

Vancouver 13, British Columbia, Canada [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1970 [21] Appl. No.2 87,808

[52] U.S.Cl ..i16/112, 116/142, 239/579 [51] Int. Cl. ..G08b 21/00 [58] Fieldoi'Search ..1 16/137, 137 A, 67, 142, 142 FP,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,494,561 2/1970 Buehler. 3,520,368 7/1970 Hayes ..169/23 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 427.215 3/1926 Germany.... 16/142 Primary Examiner-Louis l. Capozi Attorney-Brian J. Wood [57] ABSTRACT A small air horn adapted to be secured to a standard valve of a standard aerosol cartridge. A push rod extending through the horn to the valve, with a push button at an outer end of the rod. When the push button is pressed inwards, the push rod moves inwards so opening the valve. Gas under pressure passes to the horn causing it to sound. This is a small device well adapted for use as a personal warning and signalling device.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmzo m2 Robert E. Swanson,

Lyle G Trorey,

Agent AEROSOL OPERATED HORN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to portable warning devices giving an audible signal and, more particularly, to an air horn adapted for attachment to a common aerosol container for operation by gas discharged at high pressure from the container. It is well adapted for embodiment in small versions used as personal signalling or warning means.

2. Prior Art A particularly ingenious personal alarm device invented by Aidlin et al. is described in US Pat. No. 2,719,507 issued in 1955. This device operates from a C cartridge such as is used for making soda water and is sufficiently small to be readily carried in a handbag. It uses a siren and can produce both the characteristic wail and a supersonic signal.

A portable signalling device of Reeves patented in 1958 is capable of producing a loud signal, 100 decibels is stated in the patent, for prolonged period of time. It is suitable for, e.g., ARP purposes. It is portable in the sense that it can be moved from site to site and contemplates use of a large feron cylinder.

The Aidlin device has capacity limited to that of the small CO cartridge, and the Reeves signal device is not intended for personal use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates the use of an air horn, sound producing elements of which are of known design. The horn is adapted for attachment to astandard replaceable feron cartridge. Such cartridges ordinarily have a normally closed discharge valve including a discharge element held by a compression spring against a discharge port. Thus a thin rod, or pin, can be pressed against the valve element through the discharge port so opening the valve and permitting discharge of gas.

In the present invention, a push rod extends transversely through the horn the push rod having an inner end in contact with the valve element as explained above, so that when a push button at an outer end of the push rod is pressed inwards, the valve opens with the gas under pressure then discharging to a horn intake passage to cause the horn to sound so long as the button is pressed.

A portion of the push rod adjacent its inner end has a reduced diameter. Accordingly when the reduced diameter portion is within the orifice discharge is a maximum, and the horn is sounding at full power.

In a preferred embodiment overall length, or height, with the horn attached to a cartridige is 6 inches, and the cartridge is under an inch and a half in diameter.

Thus there is provided a small lightweight simply constructed signal device for personal use, for instance as a call for help, or for communication.

In essence the present invention is an audio frequency signal device operated by gas under pressure supplied from a container having a discharge valve; being characterized by means to secure it to the container, by means to open and release the discharge valve so causing the device to emit an audio signal which can be varied in intensity.

A detailed description following, related to drawings, gives exemplification of embodiment of the invention which, however, is capable of expression in structure other than that which is particularly described and illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan of an aerosol operated horn according to the present invention, being an assembly of the horn to an aerosol cartridge,

FIG. 2 is a fragmented part sectioned side elevation of an assembly generally according to FIG. I, but illustrating an alternative pushbutton arrangement,

FIG. 3 is a section on 33 FIG. 1, a spring clip having been added,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the spring clip.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE Description related to FIG. 3, and reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 An assembly of an aerosol operated horn to a standard aerosol cartridge is designated generally 10, including the horn 11 and the cartridge 12.

The cartridge, which as illustrated is a standard replaceable feron cartridge having a LA-lO valve generally 13 at an upper end. The valve has an inverted cup shaped valve element 14 urged by a compression spring 15 against a seat 16 having a central discharge port 17. The LA-lO valve is constructed and arranged for the valve element 14 to be pressed downward against the spring 15 moving the valve element from its seat permitting discharge through the discharge port 17. External threads 18 are provided as shown for attachment to a device with which the cartridge is to be used, in the present example the horn. The valve 13 is a normally closed type.

The horn The horn is of known construction, for instance generally according to U. S. Pat. No. 3,1 17,552 issued to the present inventor and modified as later particularlized for aerosol cartridge operation.

In brief description, as seen in FIG. 3 the horn has an outwardly flared horn element 21 converging inwards to a throat 22. A flexible diaphragm 23 is held by an end housing 24 secured by screws 25, seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 only, to a body 26 of the horn. The diaphragm is flexed as shown and, in a nonoperating position, rests against an inner end of the throat 22.

To operate the horn, gas under pressure is admitted through an entrance passage 28 and passes to an annular chamber 27 through aperture 29.

When pressure in the annular chamber reaches a particular value, the diaphragm is forced clear of the throat so permitting discharge through the horn element and reducing the pressure. Consequently, the diaphragm vibrates at frequency and amplitude determined by design parameters until the supply of gas under pressure is cut off.

Means to operate the cartridge valve 13 Referring to FIG. 3, the throat has a central axis 30, and the body 26 has a diametrically opposed outer and inner bosses 31 and 32 which are coaxial of a common axis 33, normal to and intersecting a throat axis 30. Outer and inner transverse bores 34 and 34.1 extend through the body and through both bosses to the throat, both bores being aligned on the common axis 33. The outer transverse bore 34 is counterbored as seen at 35, and the entrance passage 23 is a counterbore of the inner transverse bore 34.1. An inner end of the entrance passage is counterbored as seen at 36 to receive an 0-ring, the counterbore 36 being internally threaded to receive the threads 18 of the cartridge.

A push rod 37 is a sliding fit to and extends through both transverse bores, and has an outer end to which a pushbutton 38 is secured, the pushbutton being received in the counterbore 25. At a limit of upward motion the push rod is just in contact with the valve element 14, and an inner end wall 41 of the button 38 is held clear of a shouldar 42 defined between the transverse bore 34 and the counterbore 35, with the button within the counterbore as seen.

The air horn being secured to the aerosol cartridge, pressing the button 38 to move the push rod inwards will move the valve element 14 opening the valve 13 and operating the horn. The inner end of the push rod has a diameter less than that of the discharge port 17 so that when the inner end has entered the port opening the valve, gas flows out through an annular space between the push rod and a side wall of the port 17. Required diameter difference is a matter of design, a few one hundredths of an inch is typical.

Means to regulate loudness of signal Adjacent a lower end of the push rod 37 there is a portion 43 of reduced diameter, suitably about half the diameter of the lower end of the push rod. When the button 38 is pressed inwards to such extent that reduced diameter portion 43 enters the discharge port 17 of the valve 13, it is seen that flow of gas from the cartridge is a maximum. Thus rate of discharge of gas from the cartridge depends upon how far down the button is pushed providing a degree of regulation of flow of gas, and hence loudness of the emitted by the horn.

Alternative button arrangement, FIG. 2

In FIG. 2 an upper boss 46 is seen in elevation partly fragmented, which boss is generally as described with respect to the upper boss 31 FIG. 3, but has a greater length. The button 38 has a top 47, the length of the boss 46 is such that the top of the button is just clear of the boss 46, as shown in FIG. 2, the button being in a released position.

To operate the horn at full power, the button 38 has to be depressed to be within the counterbore, consequently accidental sounding of the horn is less likely with the alternative shown in FIG. 2.

Spring clip FIGS. 3 and 4 A removable spring clip 49 can be provided. The clip has an upper arm 51 having an opening adapted to receive the lower boss 32 so as to be secured between the hem and the cartridge when assembled as shown in FIG. 3.

A lower arm 52 is upturned as seen at 53 with an inner end of the upturned portion just contacting the cartridge. The spring clip can thus be used to clip the device to a belt, or to secure it in a jacket pocket.

ALTERNATIVE TRANSDUCERS The air horn illustrated is effective and gives satisfactory results. The means to open the discharge valve, and to release it to resume the normally closed position can be adapted to other sound transducers, for instance to substantially any audio signal device operated by gas under pressure.

Rather then the cartridge illustrated, a much larger or much smaller container can be used provided that it has a valve generally as described so as to be opened and released by a push rod substantially as described and illustrated.

DIAPHRAGM PROTECTION The diaphragm 23 of a small horn transduces as shown in FIG. 3 is fragile and can be protected from exploring fingers, accidental entry of twigs etc., by a screen which is not shown. As is seen in FIG. 3 the rod lies between the diaphragm and an outer end of the horn effectively denying entrance to, for instance a finger, so that a screen can ordinarily be dispensed with.

I claim:

1. An audio frequency signal device operated by gas under pressure supplied from a container of pressurized fluid, the container having a normally closed discharge valve; the device having a body and an outwardly flared horn converging to a throat within the body; the discharge valve of the container having a valve element urged by a compression spring against a seat having a discharge port normally closed by the valve element, the port having a side wall, the valve being adapted so that inward movement of the valve element away from the seat opens the valve so that gas under pressure discharges through the port; the audio frequency device being characterized by a combination including:

a. means to secure the signal device to the container,

b. means to open and release the discharge valve of the container when the signal device is secured to the container including,

i. a push rod having outer and inner ends, the rod extending transversely through the device, and being adapted for longitudinal movement relative thereto,

ii. an outer transverse bore through the body to the throat, an inner transverse bore from the throat through the body, the bores being aligned, with the push rod slideable longitudinally of the bores between an extended position at which the discharge valve is open, and a released position at which the discharge valve is closed, in. means to move the push rod between the extended and released positions, constructed and arranged for movement as aforesaid of the push rod to open and to release the discharge valve; and wherein,

iv. the inner bore has a counterbore forming a discharge v. a passage extends from the counterbore to an annular chamber of the signal device,

constructed and arranged so that, when the discharge valve is open, gas under pressure flows to the counterbore, thence through the passage to the annular chamber so causing the device to operate emitting an audio frequency signal; and wherein vi. the inner end of the push rod has a diameter less than that of the discharge port,

constructed and arranged so that the inner end of the push rod in its extended position passes through the discharge port opening the valve as aforesaid, discharge from the exhaust port being through a space defined between the push rod and the port side wall; and wherein the means (c) includes:

vii. a push rod portion of reduced diameter near its inner end, the reduced diameter portion being in a position such that, in the extended position, it is within the discharge port, discharge through the port then being maximum,

viii. means to limit outward movement of the push rod.

2. A signal device according to claim 1, wherein the means to move the push rod includes a push button at the outer end of the push rod; the outer bore having a counterbore to receive the push button, the push button having a top which, when the push rod is in the retracted position, extends outwards just clear of the bore. 

1. An audio frequency signal device operated by gas under pressure supplied from a container of pressurized fluid, the container having a normally closed discharge valve; the device having a body and an outwardly flared horn converging to a throat within the body; the discharge valve of the container having a valve element urged by a compression spring against a seat having a discharge port normally closed by the valve element, the port having a side wall, the valve being adapted so that inward movement of the valve element away from the seat opens the valve so that gas under pressure discharges through the port; the audio frequency device being characteriZed by a combination including: a. means to secure the signal device to the container, b. means to open and release the discharge valve of the container when the signal device is secured to the container including, i. a push rod having outer and inner ends, the rod extending transversely through the device, and being adapted for longitudinal movement relative thereto, ii. an outer transverse bore through the body to the throat, an inner transverse bore from the throat through the body, the bores being aligned, with the push rod slideable longitudinally of the bores between an extended position at which the discharge valve is open, and a released position at which the discharge valve is closed, iii. means to move the push rod between the extended and released positions, constructed and arranged for movement as aforesaid of the push rod to open and to release the discharge valve; and wherein, iv. the inner bore has a counterbore forming a discharge port, v. a passage extends from the counterbore to an annular chamber of the signal device, constructed and arranged so that, when the discharge valve is open, gas under pressure flows to the counterbore, thence through the passage to the annular chamber so causing the device to operate emitting an audio frequency signal; and wherein vi. the inner end of the push rod has a diameter less than that of the discharge port, constructed and arranged so that the inner end of the push rod in its extended position passes through the discharge port opening the valve as aforesaid, discharge from the exhaust port being through a space defined between the push rod and the port side wall; and wherein the means (c) includes: vii. a push rod portion of reduced diameter near its inner end, the reduced diameter portion being in a position such that, in the extended position, it is within the discharge port, discharge through the port then being maximum, viii. means to limit outward movement of the push rod.
 2. A signal device according to claim 1, wherein the means to move the push rod includes a push button at the outer end of the push rod; the outer bore having a counterbore to receive the push button, the push button having a top which, when the push rod is in the retracted position, extends outwards just clear of the bore. 